Blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackFive’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackFive’, particularly characterized by improved storage life, large fruit, and excellent fruit flavor and appearance, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.

Variety denomination: ‘DrisBlackFive’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct blackberry cultivar designated ‘DrisBlackFive’ and botanically known as Rubus L. subgenus Rubus. This new blackberry variety was identified in Ventura County, Calif. in April 2005 and originated from a cross between the female parent blackberry plant ‘BG837-2’ (unpatented) and the male parent blackberry plant ‘BH917-6’ (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar was first asexually propagated by tissue culture and root cuttings at a nursery in Santa Cruz County, Calif. in 2005. ‘DrisBlackFive’ was subsequently asexually propagated by tissue culture and root cuttings and underwent further testing at a nursery in Los Reyes, Mexico from 2007 to 2010. The present invention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for. ‘DrisBlackFive’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Los Reyes, Mexico.

-   -   1. Improved storage life;     -   2. Large fruit; and     -   3. Excellent fruit flavor and appearance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's canes, fruit, and leaves. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plants that are 2 years old.

FIG. 1 shows a section of a young cane with spines.

FIG. 2 shows the flowers and the fruit at various stages.

FIG. 3. shows the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following descriptions of ‘DrisBlackFive’ are based on observations made in Los Reyes, Mexico on 2-year old plants. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. ‘DrisBlackFive’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (R.H.S.) (2007 edition). Descriptive terminology is from the Plant Identification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary 2^(nd) edition, by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.         -   Botanical.—Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.         -   Common name.—Blackberry.         -   Variety name.—‘DrisBlackFive’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary blackberry plant named ‘BG837-2’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Proprietary blackberry plant named ‘BH917-6’             (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Vigor.—Low.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.         -   Productivity.—Medium.         -   Propagation.—Tissue culture and root cuttings.         -   Self-fruitfulness.—Self-fruitful.         -   Time of bud burst.—Late. -   Canes:     -   -   Fruiting lateral length (4^(th) lateral from tip).—Average:             Medium; 40.0 cm. Range: 30.0 cm to 45.0 cm.         -   Number of fruit per lateral.—Average: 8.0. Range: 6.0 to             11.0.         -   Fruiting on current year's cane.—Present.         -   Cane internodal distance.—Average: 5.5 cm. Range: 4.8 cm to             6.5 cm.         -   Number of new canes during flowering.—Medium.         -   New cane strength (observed full-grown shoot after             picking).—Strong.         -   Glaucosity observed on full-grown shoot after             picking.—Medium.         -   Spines.—Size: Medium. Color: RHS 145A (Medium yellow-green).             Density on central third of cane: Medium. Texture: Medium.             Attitude of apex in relation to cane: Downwards.         -   Young shoots.—Quantity: Medium. Time of emergence from soil:             Medium. Anthocyanin coloration (during rapid growth):             Medium; RHS 144A (Medium yellow-green). Intensity of green             color: Medium; RHS 143A (Medium green). Number of glandular             hairs: Absent or few.         -   Dormant cane.—Length: Long. Diameter (in central third):             Medium. Cross section (from mid cane observed at end of             first growing season): Rounded. Color: RHS 183A (Dark             greyed-purple). Number of branches: Many. Distribution of             branches: Over whole length. Anthocyanin coloration: Strong;             RHS N77A (Dark purple). Spines: Present. Number of spines:             Medium. -   Leaves:     -   -   Type.—Odd-pinnate.         -   Predominant number of leaflets.—Five.         -   Overlapping or relative position of lateral             leaflets.—Touching.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Dark; RHS 137A (Dark green). Lower             surface: Medium; RHS 137C (Medium green).         -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Glossiness of upper side.—Weak.         -   Cross section profile.—Flat (level with the leaflet blade).         -   Leaflets.—Shape: Oval. Margin: Crenate. Depth of incisions:             Medium. Type of incision margin: Bi-serrate. Apex: Complex.             Base: Obtuse. Rachis length between terminal leaflet and             adjacent lateral leaflet: Average: 1.8 cm. Range: 1.5 cm to             2.0 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet (basal pair).—Length: Average: 6.3 cm.             Range: 5.5 cm to 7.0 cm. Width: Average: 4.0 cm. Range: 3.0             cm to 5.0 cm. Length/width ratio: 1.6.         -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: Average: Short; 6.0 cm. Range: 5.0             cm to 7.0 cm. Width: Average: Narrow; 4.5 cm. Range: 3.5 cm             to 5.0 cm. Length/width ratio: 1.3. Lobing: Absent.             Undulation of margin (rippling of margin): Medium.             Blistering between veins (rugosity): Medium. Shape: Ovate.             Tip: Truncate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Crenate. Cross-section:             V-shaped.         -   Petiole.—Length average: 6.5 mm. Length range: 6.0 mm to             7.0 mm. Diameter average: 1.49 mm. Diameter range: 1.2 mm to             1.8 mm. Pigmentation: Upper surface: Light; RHS 143B (Medium             yellow-green). Lower surface: Medium; RHS 144A (Medium             yellow-green).         -   Stipule.—Size: Small. Orientation: Erect. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Time of beginning of flowering on previous year's             cane.—Late.         -   Time of beginning of flowering on current year's cane.—Late.         -   Flower diameter.—Average: Large; 3.5 cm. Range: 3.0 cm to             4.0 cm.         -   Flower number (at 3^(rd) node from tip of             lateral).—Average: 4. Range: 4 to 5.         -   Petal.—Length: Average: 1.5 cm. Range: 1.3 cm to 1.7 cm.             Width: Average: 1.0 cm. Range: 0.90 cm to 1.1 cm.             Length/width ratio: 1.5. Color: RHS 157D (Light             green-white).         -   Pedicel.—Length: Average: 15.76 mm. Range: 8.50 mm to             24.12 mm. Diameter: Average: 1.42 mm. Range: 1.05 mm to 2.20             mm. -   Fruit:     -   -   Time of ripening on previous year's cane.—Medium.         -   Time of ripening on current year's cane.—Medium.         -   Harvest interval.—Late January through mid March.         -   Color.—Immature: RHS 144A (Medium yellow-green). Maturing:             RHS 53A (Dark red). Mature: RHS N186A (Dark greyed-purple).         -   Glossiness.—Medium.         -   Shape in longitudinal section.—Long conical.         -   Size.—Large.         -   Length.—Average: Long; 3.76 cm. Range: 3.10 cm to 4.50 cm.         -   Width.—Average: Medium; 2.51 cm. Range: 2.10 cm to 3.10 cm.         -   Ratio of length to width.—1.5 (longer than broad).         -   Weight (g/fruit).—9.6 g.         -   Soluble solids (%) (in Brix).—14.0.         -   Titratable acidity: (% as citric acid).—1.41.         -   Seed weight (g/seed).—0.00325513.         -   Number of druplets/fruit.—110.         -   Size of druplet.—Medium.         -   Firmness.—Very firm.         -   Yield.—High. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance:     -   -   Botrytis fruit rot.—Resistant.         -   Powdery mildew.—Resistant.         -   Verticillium wilt.—Resistant.         -   Leather rot.—Resistant.         -   Leaf scorch.—Resistant.         -   Leaf blight.—Resistant.         -   Black root rot.—Resistant.         -   Tetranychus urticae.—Moderately resistant.         -   Tarsonemus pallidus.—Moderately resistant.         -   Aphelenchoides fragariae.—Moderately resistant.         -   Pratylenchus penetrans.—Moderately resistant.         -   Ditylenchus dipsaci.—Moderately resistant.         -   Anthonomus rubi.—Moderately resistant.         -   Aphis spp. (Aphids).—Moderately resistant.         -   Lygus hesperus (Lygus bug).—Moderately resistant.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘DrisBlackFive’ differs from the proprietary female parent ‘BG837-2’ (unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackFive’ has larger fruit and a more vigorous growth habit than ‘BG837-2’.

‘DrisBlackFive’ differs from the proprietary male parent ‘BH917-6’ (unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackFive’ has smaller fruit, darker green leaves, and is less precocious than ‘BH917-6’.

‘DrisBlackFive’ differs from the female parent ‘Sleeping Beauty’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,758) in that ‘DrisBlackFive’ has a semi-upright growth habit, very firm fruit, and long conical shaped fruit in longitudinal section, whereas ‘Sleeping Beauty’ has an upright growth habit, medium firm fruit, and elliptical shaped fruit in longitudinal section. Additionally, ‘DrisBlackFive’ has dormant canes that are rounded in cross-section, whereas ‘Sleeping Beauty’ has dormant canes that are angular to grooved in cross section. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackFive’ as described and shown herein. 